Steady States of a Plug Flow Reactor Operating on a Heterogeneous Liquid−Liquid System

Abstract

A plug flow reactor operating on a heterogeneous liquid−liquid system in which an exothermic bimolecular reaction takes place is modeled. The effect of the main governing parameters (Peclet and Damkheler numbers and a dimensionless parameter P characterizing mass transfer between the liquid phases) on the thermal modes of the reactor is examined. Depending on the values of these parameters, one or three steady states can be realized in the reactor. It is established that, with increasing parameter P, the region of multiplicity of steady states expands and shift toward lower values of the Damkohler number. The phenomenon of hysteresis is observed in the region of multiplicity of steady states.